OK, I admit to a bit of misdirection to get your attention. What really happened is the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia ordered that all churches in Saudi Arabia, and the entire Arabian Peninsula, should be destroyed. Can anyone explain why this is not the top story on every newscast in the world like it would be if my headline was true?

On March 12, Sheik Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah, the grand mufti of Saudi Arabia, declared that it is necessary to destroy all the churches of the region. The ruling came in response to a query from a Kuwaiti delegation over proposed legislation to prevent construction of churches in the emirate. The mufti based his decision on a story that on his deathbed, Muhammad declared, There are not to be two religions in the [Arabian] Peninsula. This passage has long been used to justify intolerance in the kingdom. Churches have always been banned in Saudi Arabia, and until recently Jews were not even allowed in the country. Those wishing to worship in the manner of their choosing must do so hidden away in private, and even then the morality police have been known to show up unexpectedly and halt proceedings.
This is not a small-time radical imam trying to stir up his followers with fiery hate speech. This was a considered, deliberate and specific ruling from one of the most important leaders in the Muslim world. It does not just create a religious obligation for those over whom the mufti has direct authority; it is also a signal to others in the Muslim world that destroying churches is not only permitted but mandatory.
The Obama administration ignores these types of provocations at its peril. The White House has placed international outreach to Muslims at the center of its foreign policy in an effort to promote the image of the United States as an Islam-friendly nation. This cannot come at the expense of standing up for the human rights and religious liberties of minority groups in the Middle East. The region is a crucial crossroads. Islamist radicals are leading the rising political tide against the authoritarian, secularist old order. They are testing the waters in their relationship with the outside world, looking for signals of how far they can go in imposing their radical vision of a Shariah-based theocracy. Ignoring provocative statements like the muftis sends a signal to these groups that they can engage in the same sort of bigotry and anti-Christian violence with no consequences.

OK, I admit to a bit of misdirection to get your attention. What really happened is the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia ordered that all churches in Saudi Arabia, and the entire Arabian Peninsula, should be destroyed. Can anyone explain why this is not the top story on every newscast in the world like it would be if my headline was true?

On March 12, Sheik Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah, the grand mufti of Saudi Arabia, declared that it is necessary to destroy all the churches of the region. The ruling came in response to a query from a Kuwaiti delegation over proposed legislation to prevent construction of churches in the emirate. The mufti based his decision on a story that on his deathbed, Muhammad declared, There are not to be two religions in the [Arabian] Peninsula. This passage has long been used to justify intolerance in the kingdom. Churches have always been banned in Saudi Arabia, and until recently Jews were not even allowed in the country. Those wishing to worship in the manner of their choosing must do so hidden away in private, and even then the morality police have been known to show up unexpectedly and halt proceedings.
This is not a small-time radical imam trying to stir up his followers with fiery hate speech. This was a considered, deliberate and specific ruling from one of the most important leaders in the Muslim world. It does not just create a religious obligation for those over whom the mufti has direct authority; it is also a signal to others in the Muslim world that destroying churches is not only permitted but mandatory.
The Obama administration ignores these types of provocations at its peril. The White House has placed international outreach to Muslims at the center of its foreign policy in an effort to promote the image of the United States as an Islam-friendly nation. This cannot come at the expense of standing up for the human rights and religious liberties of minority groups in the Middle East. The region is a crucial crossroads. Islamist radicals are leading the rising political tide against the authoritarian, secularist old order. They are testing the waters in their relationship with the outside world, looking for signals of how far they can go in imposing their radical vision of a Shariah-based theocracy. Ignoring provocative statements like the muftis sends a signal to these groups that they can engage in the same sort of bigotry and anti-Christian violence with no consequences.

OK, I admit to a bit of misdirection to get your attention. What really happened is the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia ordered that all churches in Saudi Arabia, and the entire Arabian Peninsula, should be destroyed. Can anyone explain why this is not the top story on every newscast in the world like it would be if my headline was true?

On March 12, Sheik Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah, the grand mufti of Saudi Arabia, declared that it is necessary to destroy all the churches of the region. The ruling came in response to a query from a Kuwaiti delegation over proposed legislation to prevent construction of churches in the emirate. The mufti based his decision on a story that on his deathbed, Muhammad declared, There are not to be two religions in the [Arabian] Peninsula. This passage has long been used to justify intolerance in the kingdom. Churches have always been banned in Saudi Arabia, and until recently Jews were not even allowed in the country. Those wishing to worship in the manner of their choosing must do so hidden away in private, and even then the morality police have been known to show up unexpectedly and halt proceedings.
This is not a small-time radical imam trying to stir up his followers with fiery hate speech. This was a considered, deliberate and specific ruling from one of the most important leaders in the Muslim world. It does not just create a religious obligation for those over whom the mufti has direct authority; it is also a signal to others in the Muslim world that destroying churches is not only permitted but mandatory.
The Obama administration ignores these types of provocations at its peril. The White House has placed international outreach to Muslims at the center of its foreign policy in an effort to promote the image of the United States as an Islam-friendly nation. This cannot come at the expense of standing up for the human rights and religious liberties of minority groups in the Middle East. The region is a crucial crossroads. Islamist radicals are leading the rising political tide against the authoritarian, secularist old order. They are testing the waters in their relationship with the outside world, looking for signals of how far they can go in imposing their radical vision of a Shariah-based theocracy. Ignoring provocative statements like the muftis sends a signal to these groups that they can engage in the same sort of bigotry and anti-Christian violence with no consequences.

OK, I admit to a bit of misdirection to get your attention. What really happened is the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia ordered that all churches in Saudi Arabia, and the entire Arabian Peninsula, should be destroyed. Can anyone explain why this is not the top story on every newscast in the world like it would be if my headline was true?

On March 12, Sheik Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah, the grand mufti of Saudi Arabia, declared that it is necessary to destroy all the churches of the region. The ruling came in response to a query from a Kuwaiti delegation over proposed legislation to prevent construction of churches in the emirate. The mufti based his decision on a story that on his deathbed, Muhammad declared, There are not to be two religions in the [Arabian] Peninsula. This passage has long been used to justify intolerance in the kingdom. Churches have always been banned in Saudi Arabia, and until recently Jews were not even allowed in the country. Those wishing to worship in the manner of their choosing must do so hidden away in private, and even then the morality police have been known to show up unexpectedly and halt proceedings.
This is not a small-time radical imam trying to stir up his followers with fiery hate speech. This was a considered, deliberate and specific ruling from one of the most important leaders in the Muslim world. It does not just create a religious obligation for those over whom the mufti has direct authority; it is also a signal to others in the Muslim world that destroying churches is not only permitted but mandatory.
The Obama administration ignores these types of provocations at its peril. The White House has placed international outreach to Muslims at the center of its foreign policy in an effort to promote the image of the United States as an Islam-friendly nation. This cannot come at the expense of standing up for the human rights and religious liberties of minority groups in the Middle East. The region is a crucial crossroads. Islamist radicals are leading the rising political tide against the authoritarian, secularist old order. They are testing the waters in their relationship with the outside world, looking for signals of how far they can go in imposing their radical vision of a Shariah-based theocracy. Ignoring provocative statements like the muftis sends a signal to these groups that they can engage in the same sort of bigotry and anti-Christian violence with no consequences.

. Can anyone explain why this is not the top story on every newscast in the world like it would be if my headline was true?

Yeah because Muslims would be bruning the world down if it was all Mosques and the rest of the world's religions know how to act appropriately when confronted. It's not news because it's not part of the left PC lets all join hands and sing Kumbaya agenda.

OK, I admit to a bit of misdirection to get your attention. What really happened is the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia ordered that all churches in Saudi Arabia, and the entire Arabian Peninsula, should be destroyed. Can anyone explain why this is not the top story on every newscast in the world like it would be if my headline was true?

On March 12, Sheik Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah, the grand mufti of Saudi Arabia, declared that it is necessary to destroy all the churches of the region. The ruling came in response to a query from a Kuwaiti delegation over proposed legislation to prevent construction of churches in the emirate. The mufti based his decision on a story that on his deathbed, Muhammad declared, There are not to be two religions in the [Arabian] Peninsula. This passage has long been used to justify intolerance in the kingdom. Churches have always been banned in Saudi Arabia, and until recently Jews were not even allowed in the country. Those wishing to worship in the manner of their choosing must do so hidden away in private, and even then the morality police have been known to show up unexpectedly and halt proceedings.
This is not a small-time radical imam trying to stir up his followers with fiery hate speech. This was a considered, deliberate and specific ruling from one of the most important leaders in the Muslim world. It does not just create a religious obligation for those over whom the mufti has direct authority; it is also a signal to others in the Muslim world that destroying churches is not only permitted but mandatory.
The Obama administration ignores these types of provocations at its peril. The White House has placed international outreach to Muslims at the center of its foreign policy in an effort to promote the image of the United States as an Islam-friendly nation. This cannot come at the expense of standing up for the human rights and religious liberties of minority groups in the Middle East. The region is a crucial crossroads. Islamist radicals are leading the rising political tide against the authoritarian, secularist old order. They are testing the waters in their relationship with the outside world, looking for signals of how far they can go in imposing their radical vision of a Shariah-based theocracy. Ignoring provocative statements like the muftis sends a signal to these groups that they can engage in the same sort of bigotry and anti-Christian violence with no consequences.

If I was wrong, then the liberals would admit they were wrong about backing muslim activities in the US. since that will NEVER happen, even when muslims are killing them for not being muslims, I must be right.

OK, I admit to a bit of misdirection to get your attention. What really happened is the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia ordered that all churches in Saudi Arabia, and the entire Arabian Peninsula, should be destroyed. Can anyone explain why this is not the top story on every newscast in the world like it would be if my headline was true?

On March 12, Sheik Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah, the grand mufti of Saudi Arabia, declared that it is necessary to destroy all the churches of the region. The ruling came in response to a query from a Kuwaiti delegation over proposed legislation to prevent construction of churches in the emirate. The mufti based his decision on a story that on his deathbed, Muhammad declared, There are not to be two religions in the [Arabian] Peninsula. This passage has long been used to justify intolerance in the kingdom. Churches have always been banned in Saudi Arabia, and until recently Jews were not even allowed in the country. Those wishing to worship in the manner of their choosing must do so hidden away in private, and even then the morality police have been known to show up unexpectedly and halt proceedings.
This is not a small-time radical imam trying to stir up his followers with fiery hate speech. This was a considered, deliberate and specific ruling from one of the most important leaders in the Muslim world. It does not just create a religious obligation for those over whom the mufti has direct authority; it is also a signal to others in the Muslim world that destroying churches is not only permitted but mandatory.
The Obama administration ignores these types of provocations at its peril. The White House has placed international outreach to Muslims at the center of its foreign policy in an effort to promote the image of the United States as an Islam-friendly nation. This cannot come at the expense of standing up for the human rights and religious liberties of minority groups in the Middle East. The region is a crucial crossroads. Islamist radicals are leading the rising political tide against the authoritarian, secularist old order. They are testing the waters in their relationship with the outside world, looking for signals of how far they can go in imposing their radical vision of a Shariah-based theocracy. Ignoring provocative statements like the muftis sends a signal to these groups that they can engage in the same sort of bigotry and anti-Christian violence with no consequences.

OK, I admit to a bit of misdirection to get your attention. What really happened is the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia ordered that all churches in Saudi Arabia, and the entire Arabian Peninsula, should be destroyed. Can anyone explain why this is not the top story on every newscast in the world like it would be if my headline was true?

On March 12, Sheik Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah, the grand mufti of Saudi Arabia, declared that it is necessary to destroy all the churches of the region. The ruling came in response to a query from a Kuwaiti delegation over proposed legislation to prevent construction of churches in the emirate. The mufti based his decision on a story that on his deathbed, Muhammad declared, There are not to be two religions in the [Arabian] Peninsula. This passage has long been used to justify intolerance in the kingdom. Churches have always been banned in Saudi Arabia, and until recently Jews were not even allowed in the country. Those wishing to worship in the manner of their choosing must do so hidden away in private, and even then the morality police have been known to show up unexpectedly and halt proceedings.
This is not a small-time radical imam trying to stir up his followers with fiery hate speech. This was a considered, deliberate and specific ruling from one of the most important leaders in the Muslim world. It does not just create a religious obligation for those over whom the mufti has direct authority; it is also a signal to others in the Muslim world that destroying churches is not only permitted but mandatory.
The Obama administration ignores these types of provocations at its peril. The White House has placed international outreach to Muslims at the center of its foreign policy in an effort to promote the image of the United States as an Islam-friendly nation. This cannot come at the expense of standing up for the human rights and religious liberties of minority groups in the Middle East. The region is a crucial crossroads. Islamist radicals are leading the rising political tide against the authoritarian, secularist old order. They are testing the waters in their relationship with the outside world, looking for signals of how far they can go in imposing their radical vision of a Shariah-based theocracy. Ignoring provocative statements like the muftis sends a signal to these groups that they can engage in the same sort of bigotry and anti-Christian violence with no consequences.

As your article points out, Churches have been banned in Saudi Arabia for a long time now.

Click to expand...

Saudi Arabia and the Arabian Peninsula are not synonymous. This statement will extend the ban beyond Saudi Arabia, and will encourage persecution even beyond the Arabian Peninsula.

But like you say its no big deal since they are burning churches and killing people all the time in that part of the world. So what if a major spiritual leader gives a rousing thumbs up to the killing.

But now if Pat Roberson were to endorse the killing of one person, that would be a major news item.

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